The characters immortalised by Francisco de Goya in many of his Madrid-themed works, such as The field of San Isidro, later generated a type of character, the Goyaesque or goyesco, which then became a regional costume. This symbolises the bond between the Aragonese artist and the Spanish capital, where his famous Quinta del Sordo estate was located in and whose paintings you can see in the Prado Museum. As well as his impressionist black paintings and other emblematic ones by the artist, you can enjoy the temporary exhibition Goya in Madrid until the next 3rd of May.

The exhibition focuses on the cartoons that Goya made for the Royal Tapestry Factory, in contrast with those of other artists, and it also shows paintings and sculptures that were used as inspiration for his works. Goya considered these tapestry cartoons not as a small-time work but rather as a “metaphorical invention” of reality that later paved the way for his definitive art. Standard tickets cost 14 euros.

If we mix together breakfast and lunch we get brunch, a mid-morning meal. It is a highly recommended formula for long sightseeing days in a large city like Madrid, in which it is convenient to recharge the batteries mid-morning and, while you do so, save on having a big meal (lunch, or at least reduce it to its minimal expression).

A good indicator of a place’s quality -although it is not always this way- is to make sure if there are any foreign tourists inside. In many cases, word gets out amongst foreigners of places that are worth going to and it is the tourists who are more aware of these things than locals themselves. Something similar happens in Carmencita, and such is its popularity that it has had to open another restaurant a few yards from its original one on Calle Espíritu Santo, 73. Do not miss its eggs Benedict and its soft hollandaise sauce on a salmon or bacon base, accompanied by mimosas, a juicy mix of cava and orange juice. Prices approximately 10-15 euros.

La Platea is a brand-new shopping centre on Calle Goya, 7 (next to Plaza Colón) that will celebrate its first ever Christmas this winter after its inauguration last June. With an initial investment of 60 million euros, it is a gamble but a firm one to revamp the whole outdated ‘shopping centre’ concept. And so, more than 20 gourmet food bars from different countries, high-range gastronomic offers and gourmet shops complete what is a very tempting food offer.

A good idea in order not to get lost is to start at El Foso, an area located in the basement with a large central dining area, surrounded by bars that serve cuisines from all over the world: Mexican, Italian, Japanese and Argentinian (a special mention goes to the juicy boneless ribs (entrecorte) at 7 euros per ration.

There is theatre beyond the great stages, such as the Teatro Real, Teatro Español or Teatro María Guerrero. In recent years, a phenomenon has consolidated itself on Madrid’s drama scene, a way of making theatre reduced to its minimal expression, where spectators can even feel the breath of the actors: micro-theatre.

Where? At the Microteatro Por Dinero (Microtheatre for Money) company, on Calle Loreto Prado and Enrique Chicote, behind the Gran Vía and near Plaza de la Luna. These are plays that last no longer than fifteen minutes and that, being so short, there are many different ones in the same place, so spectators can see quite a few of them one after the other.

The cold makes us want to try some cocido, although a true local from Madrid can eat it no matter what time of the year it is. Although apparently simple and with an unknown origin, the cocido is a dish from Madrid that is surrounded by liturgy and tradition, whose recipe has been improved after being passed down the generations ladder.

A great restaurant to enjoy a nice cocido, in a traditional atmosphere and without paying a small fortune, is Casa Jacinto, a restaurant close to the Senate and whose waiters are dressed in old-fashioned white with a broad smile on their faces. For 12 euros per person approximately, you can have a generous serving of cocido, and you will not need another one. It is worth booking a table in advance, since the restaurant fills up with its regular customs. Undoubtedly, a sure culinary victory for all visitors.

These are two words which are hard to come by together, especially now that one of the city’s jazz temples, Café Central, will most likely be closing its doors due to financial trouble. However, the Madrid International Jazz Festival has been going for 29 years now, even though last year it did not take place. It is back this year by decision of the City Council, renamed JazzMadrid 2014, much to the delight of jazz fans.

The concerts will take place in venues such as Centro Conde Duque, Centro Cultural Galileo or CentroCentro from the 4th to the 26th of November, and its programme will include some of the best jazz artists in the world. Dee Dee Bridgewater, an African-American singer that is amazing on stage, and names such as Martin & Word, Chano Domínguez & Niño Josele, Romano, Sclavis, Texier, Jorge Pardo, Richard Galliano and Zakir Hussain among others will be completing the line-up.

Having a coffee in a coffee shop is not what it used to be. At least in the more hipster area of Madrid, where there are more and more spaces appearing where the coffee is the least important part. These places are filled with books, paintings, comic books and cultural activities such as reading, book clubs or book presentations. Let’s see some of the most prominent ones you can visit in the Spanish capital.

La Fugitiva is one of the most famous ones in the area of Antón Martín, especially for those looking for some peace and quiet where to enjoy their coffee or tea in (we recommend their Ayurveda or Pakistani tea and their homemade vegan cakes). There is good Wi-Fi connection there and plenty of plugs to charge your laptop in, and the owners do not mind if you stay there all afternoon without moving. It is located on Calle Santa Isabel, 7, and philosophical discussions, book clubs and even a chess club are some of the activities that take place inside. It also doesn’t close until midnight, so there is plenty of time for everything. If you need more information, just ask Clea, who is always ready to advise those who enter La Fugitiva.

Just like that great theme park in Barcelona, Poble Espanyol, Madrid is also a melting pot of the different parts of Spain. Let’s follow that plurality through the different regional culinary schools that are located in the city.

A melting point of immigrants from other less rich regions, cuisines from far-away places like León flourished in Madrid. Close to Calle San Bernardo, on Calle Cruz Verde, 16, you can find El Boñar de León. Nobody should expect fine dining in a place that does not stand out for its decoration but rather for its generous, almost excessive, free rations that accompany the tapas. It is ideal for days that you do not feel like spending a lot of money and are not in the mood for subtleties. The cocido stew is immense in quantity and the cold cuts, traditional from León, are also an interesting choice. However, remember that this is not the kind of place that you would want to propose to your girlfriend, as it’s not the most refined place in the world.

A museum is mostly its paintings, its masterpieces, but also its walls, its architecture, its design and also its cafes and restaurants. In fact, these are elements that are receiving more attention by the managers of said museums, since they see them as a way of attracting visitors. Generally speaking, you do not have to access the museum to enjoy these places filled with art.

One of the most charming ones is the cafe at the Museum of Romanticism, known as Café del Jardín. It is a place with a French touch, elegant, delicate and only spoiled slightly by music that does not generally match the peace that you can experience here. It is made up of a room and a garden that would have inspired romantic poets back in the day; smoking is not allowed and this guarantees that no impertinent cigarette butt ruins the beauty of this charming little corner, located in the heart of Madrid (Calle San Mateo, 13), which is also free to enter. We especially recommend its homemade cakes and its summer timetable is Tuesday to Saturday from 9.30am to 8.30pm and Sundays from 10am to 3pm.

One of Madrid’s strongest points is the love that each and every one of its waiters have for beer, as you can see in the dedication they show when pouring the cañas. In a normal caña, the visitor can find a sufficient source of pleasure but, if you would like to go deeper into the world of beer, there is a huge list of breweries with the best beers from around the world, whether it is on tap or in a bottle or even brewed by themselves.

Open in 2012, Fábrica Maravillas, in the heart of Malasaña (Calle Valverde, 29), is a good starting point. It is not common in Madrid to find beer made by the bar where you are drinking it but it does happen in this modern place owned by a Frenchman from Brittany who is a huge beer lover. It is an excellent chance to sample this ancient drink made at home, with different intensities, aromas and graduations that make it a highly stimulating experience.